Krish, whose real name is Vijay Balakrishnan, is an Indian playback singer known primarily for his work in Tamil cinema. He has also sung in Telugu and Kannada films and has appeared as an actor in several movies. Krish became widely recognized for his distinctive voice and his collaborations with leading music composers, particularly Harris Jayaraj.
Some of his popular songs include “Manjal Veyyil,” “June Ponal,” “Adiyae Kolluthey,” “Oh! Shanthi Shanthi,” “Unnaale Unnaale,” and “Chinna Thamarai.”Krish was born as Vijay Balakrishnan on 12 September 1977 in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. During his childhood, he moved to New York City because of his father's work and spent several years in the United States. He developed an interest in both music and acting and studied western and classical music. He also attended the New York Film Academy for acting.
Before entering Tamil cinema, Krish performed on stage and participated in cultural events. He also performed in a Walt Disney production of Aladdin on Broadway. His musical talent eventually brought him to the attention of composer Harris Jayaraj.
Krish made his Tamil playback-singing debut with the song “Manjal Veyyil” from the 2006 film Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, composed by Harris Jayaraj. His collaboration with Harris Jayaraj continued with several successful songs, helping him establish himself as a popular playback singer.
He subsequently sang for numerous successful films, including Unnale Unnale, Pachaikili Muthucharam, Dhaam Dhoom, Bheema, Vaaranam Aayiram, Ayan, Vettaikaran and Dev. His recorded work spans multiple Indian languages.
Apart from singing, Krish has also appeared in films as an actor and has received credits as a lyricist. Movie databases list his work across Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema.
Krish married actress Sangeetha in 2009, and the couple have a daughter.